On the arrival to Irkutsk you will be transferred to the hotel 

Day 1

A sightseeing tour of Irkutsk, during which you will see the history centre, embankments of the Angara River and the most prominent monuments of architecture.

Excursion to the Znamenskiy Russian Orthodox convent with one of the most beautiful Siberian cathedrals noted for its iconostasis and tombs of some famous people on it’s territory (tombs of the Decembrists, Gregory Shelikhov and others).

You will see ice sculptures and ice castles at the city’s central square only if you are visiting from the end of December till February due to weather conditions.

 Lunch at the city centre restaurant.

Excursion to the Decembrists museum, telling about the Revolt of December 14, 1825, its participants and their life in the Siberian exile. (Optional)

Return to the hotel.

 (Meals included: lunch) 

Day 2

After the breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant you will go for a whole-day excursion to Baikal Lake (65 km). On the way you will visit “Taltsy”- open-air ethnographic museum, which stretches for 70 ha and displays unique architectural monuments, reconstructing the history, culture and everyday life of the Eastern-Siberian peoples. Here you will have a chance to experience the traditional Russian entertainment: sliding down an ice-covered hill on a cow skin. Optionally (for extra charge) – you can have a ride on sleds or Troykas. Also on the way – visit to the Buryat “obo” – a holy place for worshipping local deities and spirits.

On arrival at Listvyanka settlement located on the shore of Baikal Lake you will stop at the Shaman-rock observation platform of the river Angara stems from the lake, where you will hear a beautiful local legend and learn some curious customs connected with this place. Lunch at a local restaurant (specialities made of Baikal fish).

An excursion to the Baikal Ecological museum with a magnificent exposition of flora and fauna of the lake Baikal, and that includes aquariums with live inhabitants of the lake.

Walking tour around the settlement; visit to the functioning Russian Orthodox church of St. Nicholas-the-Miracle-Worker (the 19^th century) and the local fish market. 

Return to the hotel. (Meals included: breakfast, lunch)

Day 3

Breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant.

Then you will visit the dog farm, where you will learn the technique of operating the sleds and choose the suitable outfit for yourself.

You can enjoy snow-safari through the Siberian taiga: dog-sledging (5 km) and snowmobile (or ATV) riding (2 hours). At break time you will be offered hot tea with biscuits.

Lunch at the hotel or a local restaurant.

From February till April you will have a chance to walk on the sparkling and transparent Baikal ice.

Optionally (for extra charge) – you can warm up at Russian banya (steam bath).  (Meals included: breakfast, lunch)

Day 4 

Breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. Transfer to the airport or railway station.